O'Brien® Glaziers Successfully Scale The Heights Of The Hotel Grand Chancellor In Hobart

An impressive display of workmanship by the O'Brien Glass® Hobart glazing team has led to a new relationship with the Grand Chancellor Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania.

The Grand Chancellor Hotel is a 10-storey building overlooking the Harbour in central Hobart. After a recent storm damaged a section of the lower roof, the Hotel was looking for a new glazing supplier who could help with the repair after the original glazing company contracted to do the work refused to touch the project, citing the high risk of injury.

The team at the O'Brien Glass® Hobart was up for the challenge!

The O'Brien Glass® team was tasked with repairing 15 damaged roof panels. We used panels made of 17.52mm laminated heat-strengthened glass weighing 120 kilograms, all made according to templates in various shapes and sizes.

The work was carried out over two days, with four men working on the roof at a time. The glaziers used a scissor lift to reach the rooftop, and a crane was used to lift each glass panel.

At all times, the team ensured there were specialists on-site working with the glaziers to ensure that safety was always a priority, given they were working at such heights. The team was also prepared for the cold weather, wearing (lots of) thermals to stay warm.

The O’Brien Glass® team worked to complete the project on time and within budget, and the Grand Chancellor was thrilled with the workmanship and service provided by the glaziers. The newly installed panels will help to secure the structural integrity of the roof for many years to come with the  O'Brien® Glazing Workmanship Guarantee.

“Our contact at The Grand Chancellor was pleased with the results and expressed his gratitude to our team. They went above and beyond in their workmanship, and their expertise shined through on this project. A massive thank you to our whole Hobart glazing crew!” – Kelly, O'Brien Glass® Hobart Branch Manager

The challenges of the project

The team faced a range of challenges throughout, including:

• The immense weight of the glass

The weight of the glass panels was a significant obstacle to overcome. Each panel weighing 120 kilograms was difficult to lift and manoeuvre.

• The difficult height of the building

The height of the roof was measured to be 15 metres high, making it difficult for the glaziers to work safely. Our team used safety harnesses and ropes to secure themselves, and they worked with a team of fall prevention specialists to ensure each member was always safe.

• The cold weather

The harsh Tasmanian weather proved to be another significant challenge. The appointment date needed to be rescheduled three times before the project could be carried out due to harsh winter conditions that were often below freezing. In the end, the team wore thermals to stay warm, and they took breaks throughout the day to warm up and ensure they could return to work safely.

The importance of safety

Safety was always top of mind for the team throughout the project, as with every O'Brien Glass® job. As well as collaborating with and supporting one another, each of our glazing specialists worked with a fall prevention specialist who ensured all safety precautions were met.  The glaziers all wore safety harnesses to secure themselves as well as all necessary glazing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Nearly 100 years’ worth of glazing expertise

O'Brien Glass® is a leading provider of glass products and services in Australia. With almost a century of experience, we have a deep understanding of the glazing industry and the needs of our customers, big or small.

Our team of professional glaziers are experienced in solving difficult problems like this one and use only quality glass products that are compliant with AS1288 Standards. We also provide a lifetime guarantee on our glazing workmanship, so you can always be confident in the quality of our work.

Whether you need a new window, a shower screen, or a challenging commercial glass installation like the Hotel Chancellor, O'Brien Glass® can help. We offer a wide range of services around glass and are on hand to answer your questions about any glazing challenge, big or small.

Contact us today at 1800 059 829 or chat with us online to learn more about how we can help you when it comes to glass replacements and upgrades.